Genesis 22:13-14 “Don’t lay a hand on that boy! Don’t touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; you didn’t hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me.” Abraham looked up. He saw a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. Abraham took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. Abraham named that place God-Yireh (God-Sees-to-It).

After Abraham was called by God to sacrifice Isaac, he did not hesitate or reason. He immediately packed his donkeys the next morning and set off. When they arrived at the mountain where he was to sacrifice Isaac, he left the workers behind to look after the donkeys.

Father and son walked up the mountain together. For Abraham, it must have been a long and difficult journey, with many things going on in his mind. Isaac broke the silence with an honest question: “Father, we have the firewood, but where is the sheep that we must sacrifice?”

One does not always have answers in such situations, and a standard answer about faith rolled over Abraham’s lips: “The Lord will provide …”

When they arrived at the top of the mountain, there was nothing. Abraham then tied Isaac up, laid him on the altar, and took the knife.

But God intervenes: ¹¹Just then an angel of God called to him out of Heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Yes, I’m listening.” 12 “Don’t lay a hand on that boy! Don’t touch him! Now I know how fearlessly you fear God; you didn’t hesitate to place your son, your dear son, on the altar for me.”

Wow! God intervened! He saw Abraham’s obedience. God saw his trust. And He provided.

We each have a mountain to climb where the way forward is obscured. Yet, in the hollow of your weakness, God reveals His sufficiency. He witnesses your quiet obedience and your steadfast trust, even when you don’t understand.

And then, as with Abraham, He shows again: on the mountain of the Lord, He will always provide.

Prayer
Father, You taught me that obedience and faith are not easy, but always worth it. Thank You for giving me the strength to keep going and not run away…

Questions
Where have you experienced God’s provision in the past?
Which mountain demands obedience and trust today?
What do you need to let go of to truly trust God?

Do this now
Think of your own mountain that you’re currently climbing and say to God, “I trust that You will provide for me there.”
Write down where God has provided in the past and read it again when you feel discouraged.
Do something small in faith today, even if you don’t understand the outcome, and trust that God will provide in due time.